10 High School Thrillers That Will Make You Glad You Graduated

Remember those stressful high school days? These 10 thrillers take that teenage tension and dial it up to the max. From dark secrets hidden in locker rooms to deadly drama at prom, these films show just how nightmarish high school can be — and it’s not just about pop quizzes. So, grab some popcorn, turn off the lights, and get ready to be very thankful that your diploma is safely tucked away.

The Craft (1996)

The Craft is the ultimate goth girl fantasy brought to life. It follows four teenage outcasts who discover they have real magical powers and use them to get back at those who’ve made their lives miserable. What starts off as fun and empowering quickly takes a dark turn as they realize that wielding god-like powers has serious consequences. The film combines typical high school drama — bullies, crushes, and mean girls — all with a supernatural twist.

Scream (1996)

Scream revitalized the slasher genre and made everyone think twice about answering the phone. Set in a small-town high school, the 1996 thriller follows a notorious Ghostface killer who is hunting down students, and making everyone look like a suspect. With clever plays on classic horror movie clichés, the film strikes the perfect balance between genuinely creepy moments, and witty teen dialogue, keeping you laughing one moment and jumping out of your seat the next.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

I Know What You Did Last Summer is the ultimate cautionary tale about why covering up a hit-and-run is a terrible idea. The movie takes the carefree vibe of a post-graduation summer and flips it into a nightmare for four friends who thought they had gotten away with a deadly accident. It’s got all the classic slasher elements — creepy notes, a mysterious killer with a hook, and a group of teens desperately trying to stay alive — but with an added layer of haunting paranoia.

Final Destination (2000)

Final Destination is the movie that made everyone paranoid about, well, everything. It starts with a group of high school students narrowly escaping death by getting off a plane that’s about to explode, but then Death decides to hunt them down one by one. The film’s intensity comes from how it turns everyday objects into potential death traps — suddenly, a loose screw or a leaky pipe becomes terrifying. Alongside the usual high school drama, there’s a constant, creepy sense that death is lurking just around the corner, ready to strike in the most elaborate ways imaginable.

Carrie (1976)

Carrie is the ultimate revenge fantasy for anyone who’s ever been bullied in high school. The story follows a shy, awkward girl with an oppressive, religious mother who discovers she has powerful telekinetic abilities. Everything builds up to an unforgettable prom night scene that will make you reconsider ever playing a prank on someone. The movie blends typical high school experiences — mean girls, first crushes, awkward gym classes— with a chilling supernatural twist that turns everyday teen drama into pure horror.

Heathers (1989)

Heathers is like the dark, twisted cousin of every cheerful high school movie you’ve ever seen. It takes all the teen angst and popularity contests and escalates them to a whole new level—with a body count. Winona Ryder’s character teams up with Christian Slater’s rebellious bad boy to take down the popular kids in the most extreme way imaginable. The film is wickedly funny, incredibly quotable, and so dark in its humor that you’ll find yourself laughing and then instantly feeling guilty about it—but in the best way possible.

The Faculty (1998)

The Faculty is like a mix of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Breakfast Club. It starts with your typical high school cliques but then throws in alien parasites taking over the teachers, forcing everyone to team up to save the world. The movie blends ‘90s teen angst with sci-fi horror and features a cast full of familiar faces that will have you saying, “Wait, they were in this?” every few minutes. Plus, it cleverly plays on that feeling that your teachers are out to get you — except this time, they really are.

The Hate U Give (2018)

The Hate U Give isn’t your typical high school thriller, but it is incredibly powerful. The story follows Starr, a girl who navigates two very different worlds — her mostly Black neighborhood and her mostly white prep school — until everything changes when she witnesses her childhood friend being shot by a cop. As Starr grapples with whether to stay silent or speak out, she also has to deal with the usual high school challenges. What makes this movie so intense is how it tackles real-world issues like police brutality and racism, showing their impact on everyday teens and making you feel the tension and fear Starr experiences.

The Lost Boys (1987)

The Lost Boys is one of the coolest vampire movies to come out of the ’80s. It follows two brothers who move to a California beach town, only to discover it’s overrun by a gang of eternally young, ultra-stylish vampires. The movie perfectly blends horror and comedy and captures the teenage rebellion vibe so well that you might just be tempted to join the undead to stay young and cool forever.

Cruel Intentions (1999)

Cruel Intentions is like Dangerous Liaisons reimagined for the 90s teen scene. The movie — which stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Reese Witherspoon — centers on wealthy, bored Manhattan prep school students who play twisted sexual mind games, and ruin lives just for fun. With its mix of scandal, secrets, and forbidden romance, this film makes typical high school drama seem tame by comparison. It’s the kind of movie that makes you glad you’re not in high school anymore but also makes you wish you could pull off a prep school uniform.